Colorado Avalanche: Importance of Playing Hard

The Colorado Avalanche have an approximately one percent chance of making the playoffs after a tough loss to the Calgary Flames. They have just 10 games left, and… there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to play catch up. The Central Division is just too tough.

I’m no mathematician, but I believe the Avalanche have a better chance of winning the McDavid Sweepstakes — earning the #1 NHL Draft pick — than making the playoffs. Here’s why I’m hoping the Avalanche players aren’t mathematicians either.

Learning to Win

The Avs are made up of a core group of young players. Their star players, barring two, are between the ages of 19 and 24. Those two exceptions are 26 (Semyon Varlamov) and 27 (Erik Johnson). Otherwise, there’s Matt Duchene (24), Ryan O’Reilly (24), Tyson Barrie (23) Gabriel Landeskog (22) and, of course, Kiddo MacK, Nathan MacKinnon (19).

That’s a lot of youth.

These are young players who have spent the majority of their careers thus far on losing teams (except MacKinnon and Barrie). These are players who have learned how to play for a draft pick.

These are players who need to learn how to play to win. Actually, scratch that. These are players who are currently playing to win — they need to sustain that momentum. They need that mindset instilled in their memories instead of the acceptance of losing.

The young core of Colorado Avalanche players need to have the intensity and work ethic instilled in them so that it carries through to the beginning of the next season — because the beginning of the season is when this one was lost.

Head coach Patrick Roy said the same, as reported by Altitude Sports:

"“We want good habits. We want to make sure that it will prepare us for next year.”"

McDavid Not Needed

Center Connor McDavid is being touted as a “generational talent,” a real difference-maker. Elite Prospects has him scouted as “a catalyst for positive plays.” He’s supposed to be a nimble skater and a deft puck handler. He’s a quick thinker on the ice, poised and possessing excellent hockey IQ.

The Avalanche don’t need him.

Naturally, a player of Connor McDavid’s stature is an asset to any team. However, the Avalanche already have two Calder Trophy winners in Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. They have the NHL leader in takeaways in Ryan O’Reilly. They have a speedy puck handler in Matt Duchene — and Tyson Barrie’s no slouch. Erik Johnson’s hockey IQ has become remarkable.

In short, the Avalanche already have most of the skills that McDavid would bring to the table. Plus, McDavid comes with a high price tag — a losing mentality for the remainder of the season.

The Avs don’t need to add another talented youngster to their core. The Colorado Avalanche already have the players they need to become contenders. If they continue to play with passion and intensity, they will likely carry the needed drive into next season. That’s more important than McDavid in an Avalanche uniform.

Don’t Hang Your Head

We’re not known for hanging our heads, right, Avs Nation? We are the true believers of the hockey world, a fan base that follows a team with greatness in its history and with excitement in its future.

Our team has an excellent pedigree thanks to all the banners, Hall of Fame players and Stanley Cups in its history. And the future is bright.

The Avs “rebuilt” for enough years already — time to follow our young captain’s advice and go “Balls out all the way” for the remainder of the season. The Avalanche may make the playoffs. More likely they may miss by just a few points. Either way we’re going to walk with our heads held high and the Avs “A” on our chests.

I don’t normally allow another’s words to end my writing, but in this case, coach Roy says it best:

"“When you’re wearing the Avalanche logo, you battle.”"

Next: Is MacKinnon's Sophomore Slump Exaggerated?

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